Aldergrove school gets heritage designation

The century-old Aldergrove Elementary School will be added to the Langley community heritage register.

Langley Township council made the decision by unanimous vote in September.

The school, located at Fraser Highway and 270 Street, was first built in 1913 as a two-room school, then expanded in the 1940s, then again in the 1960s and the 1980s.

Plans for a new recreation centre in Aldergrove call for the incorporation of the old school into the proposed new three-storey aquatic centre and two-storey ice arena, where it will serve as a public library.

That caused a moment of concern for Councillor Kim Richter, who wondered what the financial implications could be if the extent of allowable renovations was restricted by the heritage designation.

Could this mean “driving up or inflating the price [of the community centre]?” Richter asked.

Not according to Ramin Seifi, general manager of engineering and community development, who told council the heritage designation will mean a consulting report that defines the building’s preservation-worthy “external features.”

Financially, “there are no implications,” Seifi said.

The Township was recently told it has to find another $15 million for the planned Aldergrove recreation centre or start making cuts.

A report by consulting company BTY Group of Vancouver calculated the cost of constructing the community centre at $50.3 million, more than the $35.5 million “spending envelope” originally approved by council.

A staff report recommended the start of construction should be delayed until the funding issue can be sorted out.

On top of the new $50 million construction cost estimate, staff also found another $3 million in “off-site” costs connected with upgrading roads, water and sewer connections to accommodate the new centre.

Council also unanimously approved adding the Murrayville Garage at 21488 Old Yale Rd. to the heritage register.

The turn-of-the-century former blacksmith and carriage works now serves as a Montessori school.